Obtaining Welfare Bounds in Discrete-Response Valuation Studies: A Non-Parametric Approach

Welfare change estimates obtained from discrete-response contingent valuation experiments normally assume a particular distribution of willingness-to-pay (W TP).U sing conventional microeconomic theory, we derive upper and lower bounds on such estimates. These bounds are interpreted statistically in terms of non-parametric estimators of mean WTP and its variance. Two contingent valuation surveys illustrate the proposed bounds, and the performances of the variance estimators are scrutinized with a Monte Carlo simulation. All calculations can be made by hand, simplifying communication among those involved in interpreting result from contingent valuation studies using discrete-response data.